Enoch & Elijah: R.I.P.

Enoch and Elijah: R.I.P. by M. Thomas Wark  The purpose of this booklet is to prove that the patriarch Enoch and the prophet Elijah are not examples of men who have died and are now alive in heaven. It will be proven that Enoch is not a type of the "pre-tribulation rapture" of the Body of Christ at the end of this dispensation.  That Elijah was not taken to heaven in a fiery chariot thereby escaping death.  And finally that these two men are not the "Two Witnesses" of the Book of Revelation, chapter 11:3-12.  These two men do not have immortal souls and they are not examples of men who do.

This is the testimony that is written about Enoch. In Gen. 5:24 "And Enoch walked with God; and he was not; for God took him."  In Hebrews 11:5 "  By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God."

At first reading we might think that Enoch did not die, but this is a direct contradiction of John 3:13 "And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but He That came down from heaven, even the Son of man Which is in heaven."  It is written in Heb. 11:13 "These all died in faith..."  We need to read carefully in the context of this 11th chapter to see that Enoch is included with these other faithful men in regards to death.

Our author concludes that Enoch was taken by God, without prior warning, that he did die a premature death, that he died in faith and will receive the promises in the resurrection of the dead like all believers.

Now the question is asked, "What about Elijah?" We need to read carefully, II Kings 2:11 "And it came to pass, as they still went on and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven."  I underlined the part of this verse that I wanted you to understand.  Some 20 years later we read about Elijah in II Chron. 21:12. "And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying..."  The author concludes that Elijah had been taken up in the sky, by a whirlwind, transported to a new location in either Israel or Judah, and wrote this letter to King Jehoram.

The last point we want to address is about the "Two Witnesses" in the Book of Revelation 11:3-12.  "And I will give power unto My two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days."  The names of these two witnesses are not recorded for us and therefore we should not conclude that it is in fact either Enoch or Elijah.